What's New For Opening Day At Oriole Park?

What's New For Opening Day At Oriole Park?

WBAL's John Patti talks to Greg Bader of the Orioles about the new non-smoking policy at Oriole Park Download This File

The view from the roof deck in center field (Photo by WBAL's John Patti)

WBAL's John Patti talks with Greg Bader of the Orioles about why the Orioles had to add a new flag pole on the flag court Download This File

Now there are 15 flag poles on the flag court (Photo by WBAL's John Patti)

WBAL's John Patti talks with Greg Bader of the Orioles about Opening Day festivities Download This File

An overview of Orioles Legends Park before the crowds arrive (Photo by WBAL's John Patti)

WBAL's Scott Wykoff's sound intensive feature with Orioles fans fired up for the opening day experience in Baltimore Download This File

A banner listing the Orioles as the 2012 American League Wild Card Champion hangs at Camden Yards. (Photo by WBAL's Scott Wykoff)

The lineups for today's game are on the scoreboard at Camden Yards even before the gates open. (Photo by WBAL's Scott Wykoff)

There is a new non-smoking policy in effect at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season. The Maryland Stadium Authority has declared that both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium are 100% smoke free facilities. This means that there will be no smoking allowed inside the facility or within 25 feet of an entrance.

To accomodate fans who do smoke they have set up an area on the third base side of the lower consourse at Gate E. You will be allowed to leave the facility and remain in a contained area to smoke and then be allowed back inside the ballpark.

The Orioles say they will be vigilant in enforcing the policy but there are also going to be understanding as well as fans learn about it.

The Orioles have also had to add a flag pole on the flag court to represent the addition of the Houston Astros to the American League. To do this, the Orioles had to move several of the existing flag poles and markers.

Each day members of the Orioles event staff re-arrange the flags to reflect the American League standings. The flag court is open to fans before and during the game and accomodates fans who have purchased standing room only tickets.

The gates will open at 12noon, 3 hours before game time on Opening Day. The Orioles say they will begin showing the movie "The Buckle Up Birds" around 1:10pm. Orioles Vice President of Communications and Marketing Greg Bader says it captures the magic that took place at Oriole Park in 2012.

The Orioles ask that everyone be in their seats by 2:30pm for the start of the festivities and introductions. The Orioles are not saying who will throw out the first pitch until game time but promise it will be an appropriate selection.

Chris Davis homered for the third straight day and drove in four runs Thursday to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Davis went 7 of 11 with three homers, three doubles and a major league-leading 11 RBIs in helping the Orioles win two of three games in the season-opening series. He drove in four for the second day in a row, hitting a two-run homer in the second inning and a two-run double that broke a 2-2 tie against Roberto Hernandez (0-1) in the sixth.

Adam Jones had three more hits, giving him seven in a series that saw the three-four-five spots in Baltimore's lineup go 17 for 37 with four homers, six doubles, 13 runs scored and 15 RBIs.

Miguel Gonzalez (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings. The Orioles' bullpen protected the lead, with Jim Johnson entering in the ninth to earn his second save after Brian Matusz allowed two runners to reach base.

Second baseman Brian Roberts singled in the ninth and appeared to injure his right leg sliding into second base on a steal. He was helped off the field, and there was no immediate announcement on the nature or severity of the injury.

The Orioles have won two of their first three games as the travel to Baltimore for the season's home opener Friday.